2013 has been a busy year for Liverpool’s Tea Street Band. From travelling the world doing gigs in Australia and New York to recent support slots with The Charlatans, they are a band on the up. Gigslutz had a natter with frontman Timo Tierney to find out more….

First of all, how the devil are you mate and what are you up to?

I’m boss mate. Really good at the minute. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. All the hard work is paying off so when band stuff is good, I am. I’m just writing and rehearsing at the minute. Keeping busy. Healthy mind and all that.

For readers who may not have listened to you before, how would you describe The Tea Street Band?

I’d ask them why they haven’t heard us firstly? Then I’d go on to tell them that it’s just sounds like bliss. When I listen to us I’m no longer where I am it takes me to palm trees and beaches. It’s like the pop song with a twist. Loads of riffs and bass drum. Puts a spring in your step. Well I hope it does.

Your sound is definitely not one of a typical Scouse band. Was it a conscious decision to try something different with TSB, or is this just the natural sound of you as musicians? 

It was conscious to do something different and far removed from what we had been doing.  We are always trying to distance ourselves from what everyone else does. We had a Korg as a new toy so its all crafted around that. Defo always trying to challenge each other. No one else sounds like us. A few people are starting to rob the theory but they’ll never do it as good as us.

You have gone from strength to strength this year and there has been some top moments like playing the main stage at Kendal, playing in Australia supporting The Charlatans and getting on the XFM playlist. Has it been your best year yet, and what have your highlights been?

When you summarise it like that it is boss. It’s been a great year for us all. We’re best mates and to doing all these good things together makes it better. Playing New York was probably the highlight for me. Everyone dreams of playing there. I always had. We got proper looked after and stayed in a boss hotel. The whole trip was unreal and the gig was great too. Recording the album is up there too.

And what are the aspirations for the band going forward? How far do you want to take it?

I want to take it as far as we can. A nice tour around release of the album would be good. Let as many people know we exist as we possibly can. Just don’t want to have any regrets from this. Try everything to make this my full time job. Imagine paying bills off playing guitar. That’s the aim. If that’s happening we’ve done well.

There has been some great things said about the band. Do you have a particular favorite accolade? 

Probably Mick Head (Shack) ringing me up one night singing ‘Disco Lights’ to me. He heard it on the radio and loved it. He’s my favourite songwriter. Fucking brilliant that was. Seymour Stein likes us too and Bonehead from Oasis. Bonehead changed my life I got up to go to school one morning and seen him getting thrown off a plane for being pissed on big breakfast news. Right then aged 15 I said I want to do that. I want to be in a band. Here I am.

Noel Gallagher has this week described 2013 as a “dog shit” year and only mentioned the new LP’s from Arctic Monkeys and Bowie as anything of note. How do you find the music scene at the minute? Is there any bands putting it out there that float your boat?

I’ll be honest I don’t listen to new music really any more. It does my head in. I hear stuff in pubs or in cars which I like. It’s all super arty at the minute. I’ve heard the AM album. I like it I suppose. It’s a shame I’m like this. It annoys me. But I can’t remember last album I bought.

What do you make of the Liverpool music wise at the minute? There seems to be a good crop of bands about and the Sound City festival is a top event too… 

Sound City is great. The city comes alive when it’s on. We’ve done one if our best shows as part if it too in some car park. It was boss! There’s loads happening here too. Bill Ryder Jones, Circa Waves, Bird, Raw City. There’s too many to say them all but liverpool is defo back to being at it’s best. A good community spirit between all bands at the minute too.

Whats next next for the Tea Street Band? I understand you’ve got an album sorted.When are we likely to hear this and will there be a tour to go with it?

Hoping so. We’re working with the agency group now who’ll hopefully sort it out. The albums done. Release date is February. Not 100% on exact date yet that’s down to the label I suppose. So that’s defo what were all channeling our energy to now! Album. Album. Album.

Before all of that you have a show at EVAC on 19th December. This will be a big night. What can we expect from that? 

We’re going to play all the songs off the album for the first time. It’s our biggest show to date. After selling the Zanzibar out twice we thought we’d try doubling the capacity and see how far we could push it to cap off a good year. People will hopefully enjoy it. It’s about the paying customer not me. I’ll just do my best to make sure they’re happy. Times are hard at the minute. If people are putting their hand in their pocket they deserve 100%.

What are you going to get your band mates for Christmas? 

Going to get Dominic an Everton shirt with Lukaku on the back. Lee more delay pedals. Nick another Nick so he can be in even more places and James a spray tan. I hope they get me a hair dye.

Ha! Cheers Timo

Nice one mate ! 

The Tea Street Band play East Village Arts Club Thursday 19th December. Tickets are available HERE